True Crime South Africa

True Crime South Africa

True Crime South Africa is the first victim-focused true-crime podcast in the country. Host, Nicole Engelbrecht, researches each case herself using media coverage, trial footage, social media sources and often by talking to some of the individuals involved. Using her skills as a creative writer and her passion for true crime, she crafts each script to ensure that listeners are given a deep dive into the case mechanics as well as an understanding of the victims as human beings. The podcast covers both solved and unsolved South African true crime cases. The unsolved cases are often cold cases which can benefit from awareness being brought to them. This concept has been used in the US for many years and to great success. The listenership formed around true crime podcasts becomes a community that advocates for victims and resolution for families. South African victims now have their own voice too. True Crime South Africa publishes weekly, alternating between full-length case episodes and shorter minisodes which discuss true crime cases that are currently in the media. The podcast launched on the 22nd of June 2019 and is making waves in the South African podcast community. On the True Crime South Africa social media pages, South African true crime fans finally have a place to call home where they can express their views on cases and discuss the details with like-minded people. True Crime South Africa is published in conjunction with Arena Holdings, publishers of TimesLIVE, BusinessLIVE, and SowetanLIVE. Keywords: crime, true crime, murder, abduction, South Africa, police, law and order

Episodes

December 17, 2025 118 mins
This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past. This episode was first released in December 2022. Listen through to the end for an update including additional information I've received since the initial episode was published.

When 20-year-old Siam Lee went missing from her place of work in Kwazulu-Natal in 2018, her di...
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In the 1950s in the KZN Midlands, one of the country's first recorded serial killers began a series of crimes which would go down in history for a few different reasons. More than 70 years later, this vintage true crime case remains one of the most infamous tales of coldblooded murder in South Africa.
(24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal h...
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December 5, 2025 45 mins
When a well-known magistrate is found murdered in her home, the Crimes Against the State unit are called in to investigate what could be another terrible silencing of a voice of justice. The truth behind Romay van Rooyen's murder, though, was far closer to home.

This episode was first released in the Patreon feed in Feb 2025

(24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447)
(Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Su...
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This is a crossover episode from Jonathan Ball's Pagecast podcast. In this episode, Nicole Engelbrecht is interviewed by journalist and director of Beauty and the Bester, Anthony Molyneaux about Nicole's new book: Bare Bones: Cold Cases From True Crime South Africa Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn
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This is a crossover episode from Jonathan Ball's Pagecast podcast. In this episode, Nicole Engelbrecht is interviewed by journalist and director of Beauty and the Bester, Anthony Molyneaux about Nicole's new book: Bare Bones: Cold Cases From True Crime South Africa
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In 2023, a middle-aged accountant stood in the dock in the JHB Specialised Crimes Court at Palm Ridge and received a 25 year sentence. Her unassuming appearance belied the 13 years she had spent systematically draining her employer's bank account. In the end, the judge would say that this was the most significant financial crime he had ever presided over. Steenkamp, though, claimed it wasn't all her fault.

This episode was first p...
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November 6, 2025 61 mins
When a family of four is attacked in their home and there is only one survivor, with a regularly alternating version of what occurred, Vanderbijlpark police quickly become suspicious. When the truth is finally revealed, it is far more horrendous than anyone could ever have imagined. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.m...
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The brand-new release movie Shelby Oaks hits cinemas across South Africa today, and in addition to being an incredible film in the horror genre, it also brings several true crime themes to the fore. When Riley Brennan goes missing her sister Mia is thrust into the world of missing people and the ambiguous loss and deep desperation that accompanies the experience. In this companion podcast - brought to you by Empire Entertainment - ...
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In 2002 Claudia Mokone was killed after being struck with shrapnel from a bomb blast near her home. Her senseless death was part of a much larger plan for a group of men who called themselves the Boeremag. In this episode I discuss the case, the group and their trial with the author of the book The High Treason Club, Karin Mitchell, and the SAPS detective who cracked the case, Col. Tollie Vreugdenburg.
(24-hr trauma helpline 082-82...
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In 2004 a recreation spot in Newcastle became the hunting ground for a serial predator. In a series of crimes that mirrored the still-unsolved Zodiac series in the US, couples seeking out some alone time in the park were targeted. The killer's arrest would occur in the most unexpected way. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.p...
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Recent headlines about SA influencers promoting an allegedly exploitative work program in Russia had the public in an uproar, but those who work in the entertainment industry were less surprised. In this episode I explore the dark side of the glitzy photos and bright lights of fame. I'm joined by the incredible Rosie Motene who shares personal insights from her 30 years in the industry.
Resources mentioned in the episode:

Rosie's ...
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September 17, 2025 1 min
I’m dropping into your feed to tell you about a very cool podcast I’ve just discovered that I think you’ll really like. Radio Workshop is a documentary-style podcast about youth issues in Africa. One of the things I love most about podcasting is that it provides a platform for previously untold stories to be heard with a lower barrier to entry and Radio Workshop does this really beautifully. You’ll hear real life stories from young...
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September 12, 2025 42 mins
This episode was first published in the Patreon feed in May 2023.

Working in a prison environment is a dangerous undertaking, but most correctional centre employees would expect the danger to come from the incarcerated offenders. When three young prison wardens set out on a brief errand for their employer, though, they will soon realise that the danger was far closer than they thought. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support...
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Stolen Girl Official Companion Podcast
Part 2 of 2 - Child Abduction in South Africa

In part 1 of the Stolen Girl Companion podcast we delved into the real-life case of Maureen Dabbagh and her daughter, Nadia, who was abducted and taken to Syria by her father in the 90s. In this 2nd and final part of the podcast we talk about the reality of child abduction in South Africa and what we can do to prevent it. I'm joined by Bianca van ...
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Stolen Girl Official Companion Podcast
Part 1 of 2 - Finding Nadia

When Maureen Dabbagh's ex-husband fails to return their two-year-old daughter from a scheduled visitation, it sets off a series of events which will change all three lives forever. Now, Maureen must become a completely different person in order to rescue her daughter when the justice system seems to have no way to help.

The brand new release movie based on this re...
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When Rachel Dolly Tshabalala was discovered deceased in her partner's home, the riddle of her murder seemed simultaneously obvious and utterly baffling. Was the man she had given her heart to the ferocious supporter of woman's rights he presented to the world or was he hiding a dark side? (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.pa...
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This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past.

Part 3

This episode rewinds back to episode 110 - the murder of Marna Engelbrecht and Sharnelle Hough and as your rewind update, I've converted this into a three-part series which now includes the two companion episodes I created for the tv series Stella Murders. It's th...
Mark as Played
This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past.

Part 2

This episode rewinds back to episode 110 - the murder of Marna Engelbrecht and Sharnelle Hough and as your rewind update, I've converted this into a three-part series which now includes the two companion episodes I created for the tv series Stella Murders. It's th...
Mark as Played
This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past.

Part 1

This episode rewinds back to episode 110 - the murder of Marna Engelbrecht and Sharnelle Hough and as your rewind update, I've converted this into a three-part series which now includes the two companion episodes I created for the tv series Stella Murders. It's th...
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When an ordinary South African finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, she starts to see the gaps in the system that are deeply failing families and justice professionals. Sophia Dewberry was not willing to sit back and lament the situation, though. Instead, she has started an organisation that she hopes will help to move criminal investigations forward faster and more efficiently and give victims of crime the justic...
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